Check protector



C. M. HEDMA-N cuzcx PROTECTOR Fehzs, 1929.

Filed June 9, 192 4 2 Sheets-Sheet Feb. 26, 1929.

' C. M. HEDMAN CHECK PROTECTOR Filed June 9, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sm te B rik RoseHe as o 5/ fiver/@6 01 J0 Jar/ff 1% /222423 1 atented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1 1,703,106 PATENT OFFICE.

CARL M. HEDMAN, OF- CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG'NOR TOv HEDMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,.A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CHECK PROTECTOR.

Application filed June 9,

My invention relates to check protectors, one object of the invention being the provision of improved means for perforating the area of a check upon which the payees 1121111618 written, and especially for eifecting such perforation by the same actuating movement which prints the amount upon the check. The perforating means of my invention is peculiarly advantageous in that type of check protector wherein the inking swab in travelling to and from the type must pass over that area of the check bearing the payees name. A further object is to pro vide the perforating means with an improved paper lifting element for forcing the check from the perforating member to jpermit its ready withdrawal.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an improved full stroke mechanism whereby the operation of the device must be fully completed in order that it may return to its normal position, thus insuring that the printing and perforating of the check is completely accomplished before the check may be withdrawn.

These and further objects and features of my invention are set forth in the following description of a particular embodiment thereof, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 a transverse vertical section of my check protector, which may be considered as taken along the line 11 of Figure 4:;

Figure 2 is a detail of the full stroke mechanism when the actuating handle has been partly depressed;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse section somewhat similar to Figure 1, which may be considered as taken on the line 33 of Figure 4;

Figure 4' is a fragmentary longitudinalvertical section taken on the line l-4i of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a plan view of a check printed and perforated by the check protector shown.

I have illustrated my invention as embodied'in a check protector of the general form disclosed in Patent No. 1,197,279, issued September 5, 1916, to Douglas F. F esler. The check protector is mounted upon a stamped base 10, within which is secured a casting in the form of a block 11 for supporting the platens and other stationary parts. Upon thebase are rigidly sup- 1924. Serial No. 718,687.

ported a pair of side plates 12 connected by a pivot rod 13: By means of the pivot rod 13 a movable casing, comprising end walls '14- and a hacker cover plate 15, is pivoted on' tially the same as those disclosed in the abovementioned patent, and the type themselves may be similar to those disclosed in Patent'No. 1,338,645, issued April 27, 1920,

to Douglas Fo Fesler and Herbert H. Hedm'an. An upper arcuate portion of each type sector is provided with a plurality of notches 20. Pawls 21 mounted on a cross shaft 22 of the casing and pressed by loop springs 23, co-operate with the notches of the respective type sectors to hold the desired numeral of each in printing engagement with the platen.

The base block 11 is provided with a suitable slot for the reception of the platen bar 24, the bar being supported at its bottom by a plate 25 secured, as by the screws shown, to the lower side of the forward end of the base block 11. For a considerable distance inwardly from the forward ends of the stationary side plates 12, their lower edges are spaced upwardly from the top surface of the base stamping 10, forming a deep slot into which the check may be inserted with its ends projecting outwardly at either side of the device. The check thus rests upon the platen bar 24 and at some distance below the normal position of the type sectors.

The actuating lever 26 is pivoted upon the cross pin 27 of a post 28 of channel shaped. cross section which. rises from the base block ,11. Adjacent its pivot point, the actuating lever 26 carries a cam plate 29, the profile of which engages a roller 30 suitably journaled on the back plate15 of the movable casing. Downward pressure on the lever 26 forces the casing downwardly rather rapidly aboutits pivot 13 on the base until the type sectors engage the paper andstart to force it against the perforating surface of the platen bar 24.

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of its downward movementthe =lever 2G forces the casing only a short distance but with a greatly increased leverage. The mating surfaces of the type sectors andof the platen bar 24 are thus forced together with the paper between "them, printing the amount of the check and simultaneously perforating the paper along the outline of the numerals.

For inking the type "previously to the printing and perforating operation, the form of check protector here shown is provided with an inking swab 31 carried upon a movable frame or carriage 32 which e2;- ten'ds across the lower side of the type sectors and between the stationary side plates 12. At each end the swab carriage 32 is provided with spaced pins 32 which extend into slots 33 in the side plates. The slots in general parallel the lower edges of the side plates so that the carr'tge may be brought to a rearward position where it is out of the way of the type during the printing and perforating operation. When at its rearward position, the swab 31 is adapted to engage one of a pair of ink supplying rollers 34. The forward ends of the slots are so conformed that they raise each of the pins upwardly somewhat to bring the swab into contact with the type sectors during the normal position of the device. As the carriage is moved along the slots 33 toward its rearward position, its first move- CJI ment is downward to bring the swab away from the type.

For reciprocating the carriage 32 so that the inking s ab is moved away from the type previous to the printing and perforating operation, I provide at each side of the device a link connected with the free end of a pinion armllo pivoted on. the shaft 17, the toothed portion of which engages an arcuate rack 37 on the respective side plate 12. Vv'hen the actuating lever is depressed, the movable casing, and hence the shaft 17, are moved downwardly. The pinion arm :36 then rolls along the rack 33' to swing the free end of the arm rapidly in a clockwise direction and, through the link 35, lo push the swab carriage along the slots 38 to its rearward position beneath the ink supplying rollers 34.

In order fully to protect a check, itis necessary not only that the amount be so writtenthat it cannot be altered, but also that it be impossible to change the payees name. To this end, I provide a perforating bar and cooperating platen for perforating the area of the check upon'which the payees name is written, and perforn'i this perfo rating operation substantially simultaneously with the printing and perforating of the allel to and but a short distance rearwardly 'oflthe slot in which thetypeplaten 2a is secured. ln thissecondsloit .is secured a perforating bar 38 similarly supported at its bottom by the plate 25. The perforating bar 38 on its upper surface is provided with phirality of upwardly extending conical points arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows, as indicatedby the p'erforated i'mpressioi'i left onthe check of Figure 5.

The platen 39 which co-acts with the perforating bar 38 is formed adjacent the forward edge of a horizontal plate lO extending between the stationary side plates 12 and yieldingly supported by a springlike sheet of metal 41, to the forward 'eC ge of which the plate 40 is secured. The rearward portion of the sheet ll is riveted or spot welded to the top ofthe'base stamping 10, the sheet being so sprung that it urges the plate all) upwardly and away from the perforating bar 38. The platen 39 carries a plurality of parallel cuts, preferably disposed transversely as shown in Figure 5, forming ridges for pushing the paper on either side of the rows of points on the "bar 38, so that the points perforate the paper of the check. fol-ate I contemplatethat the perforating need not be complete, and that the perforating elements may merely sufficiently indent the paper of the check to prevent the subsequent changing ofthe payees name.

To press the platen 89 against the check and the perforating bar, it is obviously desirable in a check protector of the type shown to apply the force from above the plate r-O. Whatever means is employed for this purpose, it will he noted, must provide for the passage of the ink swab and its carriage before the perforating of the payees name. I havelsolved this problem by providing a pair of fingers l2 mounted on the pivot rod 13 of the base. These lingers 42 are urged upwardly-by a tension spring 43 connected between the cross pin 4A, which extends between the lingers, and the following described pin as. The pivoting of the platen actuating lingers 42 on the pin 13 in common with the side walls i l of the movable frame insures their accurate operating relation when assembled which might otherwise be impaired were the lingers pivoted to the postor on another pivot pin.

The spring 43 serves to hold the fingers 4-2 up sufiiciently to permit the swab and its carriage to pass between them and the ,plate 40 before the fingers contact the plate to press it against the perforating bar. lVhen the operator depresses the handle 26 and thereby moves the casing downwardly about its pivot pin 18, a third cross pin l5, which In employing the term performs the stationary anchorage for the pawl springs 23, contacts a roller 46 which extends between and is journaled by the fingers 4-2. he cross pin l5 then forces the lingers 42 downwardly until they contact the plate d0 and press the platenc down upon the paper to force the latter against the perforating bar 38. It will be noted, however, that the initial movement the casing results in. the pinion arm 36 sending the swab to its rearward position, while the roller 46 of the fingers is not engaged until after the swab has been removed from its proximity to the plate 39 and the fingers lVhen the check protector is in the normal position of Figure 3, the bottom of the swab carriage 32 acts as a stop to limit upward movementof the plate 40 by the spring metal sheet The slots 3, it will. be remembered, are so arranged that the initial movement of the swab is downward so that when the lever first depressed, the carriage will itself lower the plate 40 somewhat before the fingers 42 contact it for more tightly pressing the platen against the perforating bar.

l he peiioiaiing bar 58 1s piovideo, along the longitudinal medial line of its perforating surface, with a narrow slot 17 within which is vertically reciprocable a lifting strip 418 having, in the form shown. in Figure l three downwardly extending legs 49 passing through suitable vertical slots 47 in the bar 38 and in the plate 25. The lower end of each leg 49 is engaged by a spring finger 50 formed integrally with a strip 51 extending along the length of the plate 25 and secured thereto as by the previously mentioned screws. The spring fingers 50 are so sprung that they tend to urge the lifting strip 48 upwardly.. Upward movement of the lifting strip is shown as limited by the spring lingers when they contactthe bottom surface of the plate 25.

A check to be imprinted is slid. in a transverse manner into the device from the forward end, a sheet metal bridge 2% preferably being provided to car v the leasing edge of the check up to the'top of the platen bar 2i to prevent its being caught thereby. hen fully inserted the eh rests in part upon the upper ellre of the l .ing strip 48. As the lever 26 is pressed dov:nwardly, the platen will. be pressed "the fingers 4:2, as previously explained, to fo .3 the paper dovmwardly over the perforating points of the bar 38. Under this pressure, the spring fingers 50 will yield to permit the strip 4 8 to he forced to the bottom of the slot 47 where it does not interfere with the functioning of the co-operating perforating bar and platen. When the actuating stroke of the lever has been completed and the springs 16 have again raised the casing, the spring fingers 5.0 will press the lifting strip 48 upwardly to pull the paper of'the check off the perforating points. Because the strip 48 Within the area covered by the points, it tends tolift the paper longitudinally of the points and in consequence distortion or tearing of the check is avoided. Were it not for a lifting device of this kind, the check would be locked against lateral or longitudinal movement by the points and considerable difiiculty would be encountered in ren'iovingthe check from'the device. The perforations effected in the paper by the printing type and the platen bar 24 are not so deep, and hence less diiiculty is encountered in lifting the paper from the platen.

The previously mentioned full stroke mechanism will now be described. Hearwardly of its pivot about the pinQT, the actuating lever 2-6 is provided with a pair of dogs and pivoted at their upper ends by a common pivot pin 56. These dogs 54 and 55 are placed side by side, that nearest the reader being provided wiih a slot 57 through which extends a cap screw 58 secured in the dog 55. A spring washer 59 provides sufficient friction between the dogs so that they tend to move together. At their lower ends the dogs are provided withdiverging cam surfaces, between which enters the upperend of a bracket 47 which issecured to the post 28. he movement of lever 26, as normally urged upwardly by the force of the loop springs 16 against the easing, is limited, and in turn limits the upward movement of the casing, by a cross pin 4.8 which is contacted by the rearward end of the lever 26. As the operator depresses the lever 26, the diverging'cam surface .of the dog 55 rides along the upper edge of the bracket 47, permitting the dogs to swing downwardly, the cammed left hand edge of the dog 54 then contacting. the cross pin 49- in the post 28. It will be seen from Figure 1 that shortly before the casing is depressed sin'liciently to start the actual perforating of the paper, the cross pin 49 will reach the portion 54: of the cammed edge of thedog 54:, which portion is substantially arcuate about the pivot pin 56. Gravity will then swing the do s where the per on 54; will overlie the cross pin 49 to prevent the return of the lever 26 to its normal position.

\Vhen in this position, swinging of the dogs by gravity will be limited by the cross pin 4:8 which is contacted by the left hand edge of the dog 55. As the lever is further depressed to complete the printing and perforating, the cam shoulder 54! engages beneath the cross pin 48 to cam the dogs outwardly, that is, to the right. The right hand edge of the dog 55 will then contact the upper edge 28 of the opening in the web of the post 28. Pressure against the cross pin &8, however, continues to cam the dog to the posit on of Figure 2, l

54 after the dog 55 is stopped, so that they are moved relatively until the screw 58 is passed to the end of the slot 57. W hen the operator releases the lever 26 and the latter is forced back to its normal or upper position, the cross pin 48 bearing against the left hand edge of the dog-55 will hold both dogs from swinging inwardly, that is, to the left, and'since the dog 54; has been moved to further overlie the dog 55 the cam portion will no longer overlie the cross pin l9. This permits the dogs to descend so tiat the cross pin 49 comes opposite the cainmed. edge of the dog 54 intermediate the portion 54 and the shoulder 54-. The upper edge of the bracket 47, as the dogs descend, enters between the outwardly cainmed ends of the dogs again to spread them apart to the normal position of Figure 1.

I have, in the foregoing mechanism, pro vided a reliable full stroke mechanism which prevents the incon'iplete printing or perforating of a check. 'lhis is especially desirable since it would. be very difficult to rc-insort a check which had been partially perforated and faintly printed into the device and so position the check that the printing and perforating would exactly register with the previous printin and perforating so that thecheck would not look mutilated or altered on its face. This full stroke mechanism is so arranged that in case anything should go wrong with itfor instance the dogs, through lack of proper lubrication fail to pivot freely, or should the dogs be wholly removed from the devicethe check protector will Work fully as well as though the full stroke mechanism had not beenincorporated in its original design.

I prefer that the cam plate 29 be adjustably tixed to the lever 26 as by pivoting it about the bolt 60 passing between. the flanges of the channel shaped lever 26, the plate being adjustable to swing about its pivot by a set screw 61 which contacts the rear edge of the plate. The position of the casin and hence the type sectors and perforating platen relative to the position of the full stroke mechanism, may be correctly adjusted by the set screw 61.

While I have shown but this specitic embodiment of my invention, 1 contemplate that many changes may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of my invention.

I claim '1. In a check protector the combination of a base, selective amount type movably sup-- ported upon said base, a type platen therefor on said base, co-operating perforating platen members, one of said members being secured to the base, spring means for supporting the other of said members from said base a spaced distance above said. one incin-- her, and common means for moving said type against said platen to imprint the amount upon a check and for bringing said members together against the force of said spring means to perforate the area of the check upon which the payees name is written.

2. In a check protector the combination of a perforating bar having a number of points thereon, a platen for said bar, means for bringing said bar and platen together to perforate an area of a check, a lifting member'dispos'ed within the area covered by said points for forcing the check from said points after the perforation thereof, a recess in said bar for the reception of said member, and means urging said member from said recess to lift the check, said means permit-ting the member to be depressed .in said recess when said type and platen are brought together.

3. In a check protector the combination of a. perforating bar having a multiplicity of points thereon, a platen for said bar, means for actuating said bar and platen to perforate an area of a check, a. lifting member disposed within the area covered by said points, a recess in the bar for the reception of said member, and spring means urging said member from said recess for lifting'the check from said points after perforation thereof, said member being engaged by said platen, when the bar and platen are actu ated, to depress said member in said recess.

4. A check protector comprising a bar having a number of perforating points thereon, arranged over an elongated area thereof, a platen for said bar, means for bringing said bar and platen together to perforate an area of a check, a lifting strip disposed within and extending longitudinally of said area of the bar, a slot in said bar for the reception of said strip, spring means for urging said strip outwardly for lifting the check from the points after perforation of the check thereby, said spring means yielding when said bar and platen are brought together for permitting said strip to be depressed in said slot.

5. In a check protector having a base, means for perforating an area of a check comprising a bar secured in said base and provided on its face with a multiplicity of perforating points, a platen for co-operating with d points, means for forcing said platen against said points to perforate said area, a slot in the face of said'ba-r, a lifting strip mounted for movement in said slot, a leg on said strip extending below said bar, spring means at the back of said bar engaging said leg for urging said strip out of said slot toward the ends of said points. said spring means yielding when said platen is forced against said bar to permit said strip to be depressed into said slot.

6. The combination of a perforating member having a face provided with a plurality of perforating points, a platen therefor, means for forcirig said platen against said points to perforate a portion of a check, a slot in the face of said member between said points, holes in said member extending from said. slot to the back of said member, a strip mounted for movement in said slot transversely of said face, legs on said strip extending through said holes, and spring fingers at the back of said member contacting said legs for urging said strip outwardly from said slot to force the check off from said points, said spring lingers yielding when said platen is forced against said member to permit said strip to be depressed in said slot below said points.

7. In a check protector the combination of indenting type, a platen therefor, actuating means for bringing said type and sa d platen together with a check therebetween for forming indentations in the check, and a full stroke mechanism effective at the commencement of such indentation for preventing the separation of said type and platen before the completion of such indentation.

8. The combinationv with a check protector comprising a stationary frame, a movable frame mounted thereon, type mounted on one of said frames, a type platen mounted on the other of said frames, and an actuating lever mounted on said stationary frame for bringing said type and platen together upon itsactuating stroke to imprint a check, of a full stroke mechanism operating between said stationary frame and on said lever for precluding the return stroke of said lever before the com-- pletion of such imprinting of the check upon its actuating stroke.

9. In a check imprinter the combination of an actuating lever therefor, a pair of men'ibers mounted for movement by said lever and norn'ially moving together, means for guiding one of said members in its said movement by said actuating lever, co-opersting stop means operative at the commencement of the imprinting for preventing the return movement of said lever, means operative when the imprinting is completed for relatively moving said members from a normal relation to move said step means out of operative relation, and

means, operative after said lever starts on its return stroke, for again relatively moving said members to their normal relation.

10. In a check protector, the combination of an actuating lever therefor which imprints the check upon its actuating stroke, a guided dog and a stop dog pivot ally monnted on the lever, friction means for causing said dogs to move together, means for confining the swinging of the guided dog about its pivot on the lever,

their normal relation.

fixed stop means, catch means on the stop dog for co-operating with the stopymeans to preclude the return stroke of the lever before the completion of such imprinting, means for engaging the stop dog to move it relatively to the guided dog and render the stop means inoperative when the imprinting of the check is completed, and

means for returning said dogs to their imprintingof the check for preventing the return stroke of said lever, means operative when the imprinting is completed for relatively moving said members to render said stop means inoperative and means for subsequently returningsaid' members to 12. Means for insuring the complete imprinting of a check by a check protector, comprising a lever therefor, the actuating stroke of which imprints the check, a frame, a dog pivotally mounted on the lex er, 'a. guide member for the dog also mounted to pivot on the lever. friction means causing the member normally to swing with the dog about its pivotal mounting, a stop on the frame, a shoulder on the dogfor engaging the stop to prevent the return stroke of the lever, co-operating cam means on the dog and on the frame engagingat the comple tion of the actuating stroke of the lever for moving the shoulder out of engagement with the stop, the member at such time en gaging the frame to prevent swinging of the member and thereby causing the dog and member to be relatively moved, the n'iember thereafterengaging the frame for holding the shoulder out of en agement with the stop to permit the return stroke of the lever, and means on the frame for relatively moving the dog and the member back to their relative relation at the end, of their movement by the return stroke of the lever.

13. A check protector comprising a base,

a movable frame pivoted thereto, selective type carried on the frame, a platen on the base for co-operating with the type to imprint a check, a pair of co-operating perforating members, one of which is secured to the base and the other suspended therefrom an actuatin lever for movin the frame to bring the type and platen together, and a second lever pivoted on the base and engaging said suspended. member when the actuated lever is operated for bringing the co-operating perforating members togetl'ier to perforate a check at a region other than that imprinted by the type.

14. A check protector comprising a base, a movable frame, a pivot pin for rotatably mounting the frame upon the base, selective type carried by the frame, a platen on the base for co-operating with the type, an actuating lever swinging the frame about the pivot pin for bringing the type and platen together to imprint a check, a pair of cooperating perforating members one mounted on the base and the other suspended thereabove, a second lever pivotally mounted on the said pin and adapted to engage the sus pended member, and means for moving the secondlever upon actuation of the first lever to engage the suspended member and force it against the base member for perforating an area of the check.

15. A check protector comprising a base,

a movable frame, a pivot pin for rotatably mounting the frame upon the base, selective type carried by the frame, a platen on the base for co-operating with the type, an

actuating lever for swinging the frame about the pivot pin for bringing the type and platen together to imprint a check, a pair of co-operating perforating members, one mounted on the base and the other suspended thereabove, a second lever for engaging the suspended member, means for moving the second lever upon actuation of the first lever to engagethe suspended member and force it against the base member for perforating a region of the check other than that imprintedby the type,an inking swab for said type, and means for moving the swab into contact with the type between successive actuations thereof by the actuating lever and for moving the swab away from the type during such imprinting, the swab in such movements passing between the engaging portions of'the depressing lever and the suspended member.

16. A check protector comprising a base, a movable frame mounted thereon, a cooperating type and platen carried by the base and frame, an actuating lever for bringing the frame and base together to imprint a check, a pair of co-operating perforating members, one mounted on the base and one suspended thereabove, an element interposed between the lever and the suspended perforating member for bringing the two members together to perforate another area of the check upon the actuation of the lever, an inking swab, and means for moving the swab into contact with the type between successive actuations thereof by the lever and for moving the swab away from the type during the actuating stroke of the lever, the swab in one of such movements passing between the said element and the suspended perforating member.

17 In a check protector, the combination of type, a platen therefor, actuating mechanism to bring said type and platen into cooperative engagement, and means toprevent incomplete cooperation of said type and platen comprising a pair of pivotally mounted paw'ls frictionally engaging each other, means to move'one of said pawls relative to the other upon the completion of the printing operation, and a stop engage able by one of said pawls to prevent the return movement of said actuating mechanism to normal position prior to the completion of the printing operation.

18. Ina check protector, the combination of type, a platen therefor, operating means to bring said type and platen intocoope rative engagement, a pair of pawls pivotally secured to said operating means, means for 'frictionally holding said pawls together, a stop engaging one ofsaidpawls to prevent return movement of said'oper'ating means after a printing operation has been initiated, and means tomove said pawl relative to the other of said pa'wls upon completion of the printing operation so as to prevent its engagement with said stop.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of May, 192%.

CARL M. HEDMAN. 

